A photo from open sources
Who would have thought that a laser volumetric printer “Glowforge” – another novelty in the world of high technologies – will succeed get into the Guinness Book of Records.
The project of a unique device managed to set an absolute record fundraising online. On the Kickstarter website inventors through crowdfunding (public finance) tried to collect only five hundred thousand to start production dollars, but investors liked the printer so much that they for the month provided the authors of the project as much as twenty eight millions.
Unlike traditional 3D printers, which create from plastic bulk objects by layer-by-layer application, “Glowforge” acts in a completely different way. With a laser beam he cuts pieces and figures from various materials forms. According to the inventors, their device is somewhat similar to industrial machines with numerical control. High-precision camcorders and sensors ensure that the cutting the laser made no errors exceeding one tenth of the thickness human hair. In this process, a special built-in computer connected to a tablet, laptop or a user’s normal computer using a wireless network.
A photo from open sources
It is reported that “Glowforge” serves not only for cutting, but also for engraving. Moreover, the range of raw materials is not limited to one only plastic. For 3D printing, the owner of a miracle printer can use cardboard, paper, acrylic, leather, rubber, wood and even chocolate. Laser engraving can be applied to marble, glass, ceramic tiles, stone and various metals up to titanium.
The dimensions of the device are 965 by 527 by 210 millimeters, the working area of the printer is 300 by 500 millimeters. According to the authors project, the base model will cost two in the United States thousands of dollars, option with air cooling function – three thousands. A professional model that will become indispensable for designers, architects, artists and other specialists, will cost the Americans four thousand dollars.
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